The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team picked up a huge win on the road Tuesday night, as they took down the Tigerettes in Slaton, 12-7.
With the win the Lady Cats improve to 11-10 overall, 5-1 in district play.
Amaya McCanick pitched a complete seven inning game for the Lady Cats, giving up eight hits, two walks and seven runs, three earned, while earning four strikeouts.
In the top of the first inning, Bryndle Ray got the Lady Cats going with a single to shortstop, beating the throw to first from Kolbi McCord. Sophia Mata, though would strike out looking for out number one. Isaihla Garza hit a shot to third and was throw out at first by Z’Naleigh Escobedo, as Ray advanced to second with two outs. Maggie McNeese would strike out swinging to retire the side as the Lady Cats stranded a runner on base.
McCanick and the Lady Cat defense made quick work of the Tigerettes in the bottom of the first, as Burkelynn Lamberson popped up to McNeese in foul territory at first base for out number one. Escobedo grounded out to Brianna Aleman at third base for out number two, but Zuri Martinez hit a short-hopper to Garza near first base and beat the toss to first to give Slaton a base runner.
McCord drew a walk, but Slaton would strand two runners on base, as Reese Martinez grounded out to McCanick in the circle to end the inning.
Both teams went scoreless through the second inning, but in the top of the third, Tailyn Gomez singled on an error by McCord at shortstop to lead things off and she stole second on a ball in the dirt that got away from Jessleigh Lamberson. Ray followed it up with an RBI-double through the left side to put the Lady Cats in front, 1-0.
Mata flew out to Burkelynn Lamberson in left field for out number one, but Garza singled to center field to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. McNeese singled to right field to drive in a run, pushing their lead to, 2-0, but Aleman hit a shot to Escobedo at third base, who stepped on third for the force out, before throwing to first for the double play to retire the side.
The Lady Cat defense kept the Tigerettes quiet in the home-half of the third, as Jessleigh Lamberson grounded out to Garza at second base and Burkelynn Lamberson flew out to Gomez in left field for out number two. Escobedo hit a grounder to Aleman at third base, but the throw to first was missed by McNeese, giving Slaton a base runner.
McCanick would get Martinez to line out to Mata in center field to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, McCanick led things off with a hit to Martinez at second base, who bobbled the ball, giving Littlefield a base runner. Hannah Lopez hit into a fielder’s choice to Escobedo at third base, who got the out at second for out number one. Lopez stole second on a passed ball, before Abby Rodriguez flew out to Burkelynn Lamberson in left field for out number two.
Gomez ripped an RBIdouble down the third-base line, and Ray followed it up with an RBI-double to leftcenter field to extend their lead to, 4-0. Mata singled on an error by Escobedo at third base and she stole second on a pitch, before Garza grounded out to Escobedo at third base to retire the side.
Slaton would wake up the bats in the bottom of the fourth, as McCord blasted a lead-off triple off of the fence in center field. Martinez was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, and McCord scored on a passed ball, but Martinez was thrown out at third, making the score, 4-1, with one out.
Bre Guzman lined out to Aleman at third base for out number two and Aracellie Muniz popped up to Aleman at third base to end the inning.
Slaton kept the Lady Cats quiet in the top of the fifth, and in the bottom half of the inning, Luera flew out to Peyton Galvan in right field for out number one, but Jessleigh Lamberson singled up the middle and Burkelynn Lamberson singled over third to give the Tigerettes a pair of base runners. Escobedo hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped by Gomez, trimming the lead to, 4-2, with runners on second and third.
McCanick got Martinez to strike out swinging for out number two, but McCord followed it up with a two-RBI double to right-center field, tying the game, 4-4. Martinez was tagged out by Rodriguez on a dropped third strike to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, the bats came alive for the Lady Cats, as Rodriguez singled passed Martinez at second base. Gomez hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded by Martinez, who flipped it to McCord on the bag at second, who then fired to first for the double play. Ray would pick her team up with a double to left-center field, as Guzman relieved Muniz on the circle for Slaton.
Mata singled up the middle to drive in a run and put the Lady Cats back in front, 5-4. Garza drew a walk and the throw down to second rolled into center field, landing Mata on third to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. McNeese hit a two-RBI single over McCord at shortstop, as she took second on the throw home, pushing their lead to, 7-4. Aleman kept it going with a single to left field putting runners on the corners again for Littlefield with two outs.
McCanick was walked on an illegal pitch by Guzman to load the bases and Lopez kept the two-out rally going with an RBIsingle to center field, extending the lead to, 8-4. Rodriguez followed it up with a two-RBI single down the third-base line, as London Taylor came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher with the score, 104.
Gomez singled up the middle to re-load the bases for Slaton, as Muniz re-entered the circle for Guzman. Ray kept the rally going with a two-RBI single to leftcenter field, making the score 12-4 with runners on first and third. Ray took second on a pitch, before Mata flew out to right field to retire the side.
Slaton would add two runs in the bottom of the sixth and one run in the bottom of the seventh, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 12-7.
The Lady Cats traveled to Dimmitt on Saturday to take on the Bobbies for their second meeting of the season. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a home game against Shallowater.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.